Sierra Madre Occidental

The road & its landscape

The old MEX-40 offers a winding road chapter in the Sierra Madre Occidental on the Durango side. The selected section reaches the Espinazo del Diablo viewpoint from El Salto, with deep forested ravines below the ridge road.

MEX-40 libre is distinct from toll road MEX-40D and the Baluarte bridge. This chapter stops on the Durango side; it does not recommend an automatic continuation through Sinaloa or include Mexiquillo’s walking trails.

VIEWS FROM THE ROAD

Scenery along the road

El Salto and La Ciudad sit in pine country. Beyond the Mexiquillo junction, the road follows increasingly exposed relief; at the Espinazo viewpoint, steep ravines and opposing ridges replace the close forest foreground.

El Salto to La Ciudad

Follow the public highway through the forested settlements, distinguishing the free road at junctions.

Mexiquillo junction to ridge road

Remain on MEX-40 as the terrain drops into deep ravines beside the road.

Espinazo viewpoint

Pause in the viewpoint area before returning; the scenic stop is not an instruction to stop in a bend.

Road conditions & preparation

Check local highway and security conditions before setting out, and ride in daylight. Fog and rain can obscure tight bends. Fill up in settled towns, keep brake and tyre condition suitable for prolonged gradients, and stop only in established viewpoints.

Confirm the detailed road line, fuel and current access before using this chapter to plan a ride. Scenic-area transfers and off-road riding may require separate arrangements.

THE LANDSCAPE AROUND YOU

Mountain landscapes

3 photographs

Photographs identify their actual location, author and licence. Viewpoints away from the riding corridor are stated in the captions; photographs are not verified ride records.

Forested ravines at Espinazo del Diablo in San Dimas, Durango, photographed in 2008
panza.rayada · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Thumbnail / display crop · Licence

Rock towers beside MEX-40 at Espinazo del Diablo, November 2013
panza-rayada · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Thumbnail / display crop · Licence

Cloud and mountain slopes above MEX-40 at Espinazo del Diablo; roadway in the foreground
Tereso Hernández · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Thumbnail / display crop · Licence

Sources & provenance

Summarised from public sources. A historic tourism plan describes a corridor, not current road access. Track authors retain ownership of their files.